Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with what the Deputy said. I assure her that we will do that. I will take the opportunity to put some of the new measures to deal with outpatient waiting lists that are being tried in the University Hospital Galway on the record of the House. There is a urology pathway pilot scheme which should result in significant progress on wait times. The plastic surgery service in Galway has been running an innovative "see and treat" clinic. This involves patients attending outpatient appointments and, where a minor surgical intervention is required, receiving it on the same day. Approximately 220 patients were treated in this way last year. The National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, agreed to fund this initiative from September 2018 onward, with an additional 143 patients accessing the service. Galway University Hospital has also put in place virtual clinics for ear, nose and throat, ENT, and vascular services. This is only appropriate for certain conditions, but should result in an improvement.

We have an issue with patients not attending and the hospital is working on this. Some 8,494 new patients and 28,689 review patients did not turn up for their appointments in Galway University Hospital in 2018. I am not blaming the patients but these figures show that there is a need to maximise attendance. The hospital is looking at a text reminder service and at overbooking clinics so that, if some people do not turn up, another patient will be waiting to be seen. Saolta is going to continue to work on that. I will certainly reflect on the Deputy's comments. We will make sure that Saolta and Galway benefit from the additional resources we have in place for outpatients and inpatients for 2019.

See this speech in context